Applicator Device Segmentation for Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicator devices for applying agents to fiber-like materials, such as hair, often suffer from unwanted leakage and inefficient distribution due to lack of control over the application process, particularly when dealing with multi-component agents.
Innovation Solution
The proposed applicator device features a housing unit with a depot volume and a smaller application volume, a pump unit to stimulate turbulent flow, a mixing unit for homogeneity, and a separation unit to decouple the application volume from the depot volume, ensuring controlled and uniform application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single large reservoir volume is used to store application agent, then the storage capacity is improved, but the control over application and prevention of leakage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single reservoir volume into multiple separate reservoirs (first reservoir, second reservoir, etc.), each storing a portion of the application agent. This segmentation allows independent control of each reservoir, preventing leakage while maintaining adequate storage capacity. Each reservoir can be separately filled, controlled, and emptied, solving the contradiction between storage quantity and leakage control.
2Quantity of substance
If a large application volume is used to ensure sufficient agent supply, then the supply adequacy is improved, but the precision of application control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The application volume is divided into multiple smaller application volumes, each associated with specific application points. This allows precise control over where and how much agent is applied, while the cumulative effect of multiple application volumes ensures sufficient overall supply. Each application volume can be independently controlled by its corresponding reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
Different application volumes are tailored to specific application points or regions, allowing optimized agent delivery for each location. This local optimization ensures adequate supply at each point while maintaining overall precision through distributed control across multiple application volumes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multi-component application agents are used to achieve complex treatment effects, then the treatment versatility is improved, but the mixing and homogeneity control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different components of multi-component application agents are stored in separate reservoirs, preventing premature mixing. The components are delivered to application points in controlled sequences or proportions, ensuring proper mixing only at the point of application. This maintains composition stability during storage while enabling versatile treatment combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mixing chambers or mixing zones as intermediaries between the separate component reservoirs and the application points. These intermediaries provide controlled environments for mixing multi-component agents, ensuring homogeneity while maintaining the ability to deliver different component combinations for versatile treatments.
4Reliability
If the applicator device is designed with complex control mechanisms to prevent leakage, then the leakage protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses multiple simple, independent reservoirs and application volume compartments rather than a single complex control system. Each compartment can be independently filled, sealed, and controlled with simple mechanisms. This distributed simple architecture achieves reliable leakage protection without requiring complex interlinked control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The application device is designed to automatically control the flow and application of agents through its segmented structure, reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms. The separate reservoirs and application volumes self-regulate to prevent overfilling and leakage, simplifying the overall device while maintaining high reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures safe, efficient, and uniform application of agents to hair, reducing leakage and allowing for precise control over the application process, even when tilted, and preventing excess agent from escaping during use.
Implementation Method 1
the pump unit is designed to induce turbulent flow of the application agent within the reservoir volume
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an applicator device for applying at least one application agent (10a) to fibrous material, in particular an applicator device for applying an application agent (10a) to hair. Said device comprises a housing unit (11a) that contains at least one depot volume (12a) for storing the application agent(s) (10a) and at least one application volume (13a) that is connected to the depot volume (12a).